In the midst of protests and riots over the killing of black males by police officers, a conservative African-American minister is standing up for America's police.
Bishop E.W. Jackson, president of STAND (Staying True to America's National Destiny) and senior fellow at the Family Research Council, told the
Christian Examiner, "I have been saying that this lie that police are out hunting down black men has got to stop. We now have two cops murdered in cold blood. It's time for Americans to express our gratitude to our police officers."
Jackson was referring to the brutal ambush murders of New York officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu Saturday in Brooklyn, who were assassinated by Ismaiiyl Brinsley, who wrote on a website he was going to put "wings on pigs" in retaliation for the deaths of New Yorker Eric Garner and Ferguson, Missouri, resident Michael Brown in confrontations with the police.
"When the Trade Towers were falling, they (police) ran toward those buildings while everyone else ran away. We should never forget that,"
Jackson told the Christian Post.
"It's time we told the rest of this story — police risking their lives to make us all safe."
Jackson told the Christian Examiner that America's black youth need to be told, "When you treat them (police) with respect and do not engage in crime or lawlessness, you are going to come away just fine.
"We need to be focused on having youth turn their attention to education, on being good husbands and raising good families. Then, encounters with the police won't pose a threat to them."
As part of their
Pray for Police program, STAND has published a prayer card to be handed out to families and police stations around the country, which reads:
"When the job is hard,When the pressure is great.
When you wonder, 'Does anyone appreciate?'
Just know that for all the work you do,
Someone is praying and thinking of you.
For your duty and honor in difficult times,
God in heaven makes His face shine.
He looks upon you from above.
To inspire you with courage and love.
May He give you the strength to make one more round.
At the end of your shift to go home safe and sound.
May you fight the good fight and live by His grace.
When your work here is done,you'll see His loving face."